Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I): (I) or a salt thereof, wherein: X is CR.sub.6 or N; Y is CR.sub.3 or N; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, and m are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds to inhibit the activity of one or both of diacylglycerol kinase alpha (DGKα) and diacylglycerol kinase zeta (DGKζ), and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. These compounds are useful in the treatment of viral infections and proliferative disorders, such as cancer.

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CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Indian Provisional Application No. 201911053558 filed Dec. 23, 2019 which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

DESCRIPTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to substituted heteroaryl compounds that activate T cells, promote T cell proliferation, and/or exhibit antitumor activity. Provided herein are substituted heteroaryl compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of their use. The invention further pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound according to the invention that are useful for the treatment of proliferative disorders, such as cancer, and viral infections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Human cancers harbor numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations, generating neoantigens potentially recognizable by the immune system (Sjoblom et al. (2006) Science 314:268-74). The adaptive immune system, comprised of T and B lymphocytes, has powerful anti-cancer potential, with a broad capacity and exquisite specificity to respond to diverse tumor antigens. Further, the immune system demonstrates considerable plasticity and a memory component. The successful harnessing of all these attributes of the adaptive immune system would make immunotherapy unique among all cancer treatment modalities. However, although an endogenous immune response to cancer is observed in preclinical models and patients, this response is ineffective, and established cancers are viewed as “self” and tolerated by the immune system. Contributing to this state of tolerance, tumors may exploit several distinct mechanisms to actively subvert anti-tumor immunity. These mechanisms include dysfunctional T-cell signaling (Mizoguchi et al., (1992) Science 258:1795-98), suppressive regulatory cells (Facciabene et al., (2012) Cancer Res. 72:2162-71), and the co-opting of endogenous “immune checkpoints”, which serve to down-modulate the intensity of adaptive immune responses and protect normal tissues from collateral damage, by tumors to evade immune destruction (Topalian et al., (2012) Curr. Opin. Immunol. 24:1-6; Mellman et al. (2011) Nature 480:480-489).

[0004] Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) are lipid kinases that mediate the conversion of diacylglycerol to phosphatidic acid thereby terminating T cell functions propagated through the TCR signaling pathway. Thus, DGKs serve as intracellular checkpoints and inhibition of DGKs are expected to enhance T cell signaling pathways and T cell activation. Supporting evidence include knock-out mouse models of either DGKα or DGKζ which show a hyper-responsive T cell phenotype and improved anti-tumor immune activity (Riese M. J. et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, (2011) 7: 5254-5265; Zha Y et al., Nature Immunology, (2006) 12:1343; Olenchock B. A. et al., (2006) 11: 1174-81). Furthermore tumor infiltrating lymphocytes isolated from human renal cell carcinoma patients were observed to overexpress α which resulted in inhibited T cell function (Prinz, P. U. et al., J Immunology (2012) 12:5990-6000). Thus, DGKα and DGKζ are viewed as targets for cancer immunotherapy (Riese M. J. et al., Front Cell Dev Biol. (2016) 4: 108; Chen, S. S. et al., Front Cell Dev Biol. (2016) 4: 130; Avila-Flores, A. et al., Immunology and Cell Biology (2017) 95: 549-563; Noessner, E., Front Cell Dev Biol. (2017) 5: 16; Krishna, S., et al., Front Immunology (2013) 4:178; Jing, W. et al., Cancer Research (2017) 77: 5676-5686.

[0005] There remains a need for compounds useful as inhibitors of one or both of DGKα and DGKζ. Additionally, there remains a need for compounds useful as inhibitors of one or both of DGKα and DGKζ that have selectivity over other diacylglycerol kinases, protein kinases, and/or other lipid kinases.

[0006] Accordingly, an agent that is safe and effective in restoring T cell activation, lowering antigen threshold, enhancing antitumor functionality, and/or overcoming the suppressive effects of one or more endogenous immune checkpoints, such as PD-1, LAG-3 and TGFβ, would be an important addition for the treatment of patients with proliferative disorders, such as cancer, as well as viral infections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Applicants have found compounds that have activity as inhibitors of one or both of DGKα and DGKζ. Further, applicants have found compounds that have activity as inhibitors of one or both of DGKα and DGKζ and have selectivity over other diacylglycerol kinases, protein kinases, and/or other lipid kinases. These compounds are provided to be useful as pharmaceuticals with desirable stability, bioavailability, therapeutic index, and toxicity values that are important to their drugability.

[0008] The present invention provides substituted heteroaryl compounds of Formula (I), which are useful as inhibitors of DGKα, DGKζ, or both DGKα and DGKζ, including salts and prodrugs thereof.

[0009] The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I) and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0010] The present invention also provides a method of treating a disease or disorder associated with the activity of DGKα, DGKζ, or both DGKα and DGKζ, the method comprising administering to a mammalian patient a compound of Formula (I) and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

[0011] The present invention also provides processes and intermediates for making the compounds of Formula (I) and/or salts thereof.

[0012] The present invention also provides a compound of Formula (I) and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in therapy.

[0013] The present invention also provides the use of the compounds of Formula (I) and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of proliferative disorders, such as cancer and viral infections.

[0014] The compounds of Formula (I) and compositions comprising the compounds of Formula (I) may be used in treating, preventing, or curing viral infections and various proliferative disorders, such as cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as viral infections and cancer.

[0015] These and other features of the invention will be set forth in expanded form as the disclosure continues.